An ailing 80-year-old woman was found lying near the bloated body of her daughter in a house in Pathum Thani’s Lam Lukka district late Sunday night, police said.

Neighbours called the Khukot police station at 11.30pm to report a persistent foul smell coming from the house of Chanjira Upree, 44, which she shared with her ailing mother.

When police, rescuers and a doctor from the Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital arrived at the house, they found Chanjira’s mother lying on the floor. Chanjira’s body was on the adjacent sofa.. The doctor determined that Chanjira had been dead for about three days ago.

The old woman, who was unable to communicate with rescuers, was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Neighbours told police that they first became aware of the smell on Saturday. It grew stronger on Sunday and they identified it as coming from Chanjira’s house.

There was no sign of an attack and the body has been sent for autopsy to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital.